Given the huge surge in the import of mobile phones in the last few years, Eminent Member of the National Council Kesang Chuki Dorjee recommended imposing taxes on the import of mobile phones again. About Nu 1.6bn worth of mobile phones were imported in just one year after the tax exemptions on the import of mobile phones in 2020. The 20% customs duty and 10% sales tax on the import of mobile phones were lifted to ease the financial burden on low-income earners with children attending online classes during the pandemic.
“As per local papers, doing away with taxes on imports of mobile phones has not benefitted the general public. It rather suggested the prices of mobile phones further increased after the exemption. Moreover, we have also heard cases of deflection happening, whereby local mobile importers are selling the phones to nearby border towns. I am very much worried. I feel this is the right time we make some changes to it while we are discussing tax. If the tax exemption is of no benefit to the public, it’s better we start to impose tax again,” the Eminent Member said.
Passang Dorji
